The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-03-26
THE DAILY NEWS

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NtW fOfk i1iDuHc-
Public opinion in England is divided
respecting the expediency and justice of
coercion. When the Liberal Government
had recourse in 1881 and again in 1889 to
the time-worn policy Of force, the Irish
members stood alone Amajority OF the
Scotch and Welsh members are on their
side, and formidable body of English
Liberals led by Mr.. Morley and Sir VIII
liam Harcourt are prepared TO contest the
passage of the new Coercion Bill at every
stage Nr. Gladstone himself Is to Head
the opponents of the Government be-
lated measure; and the Irish cause viii
be defended by a large majority OF LIB
eral Journals in the United Kingdom
Mr. Balfour i'm introducing the Coercion
Bill NAV plead that the supremacy OF
Crown law must be restored in ireland
before reform legislation can be at
tempted: but he will not be supported, as
Mr. Foster and Sir George Treveiyan
were, by an undivided public opinion IN
England. His announcement OF the
measure was immediately followed by
Mr.. Morleys amendment, which was re-
e-eived with cheers by the Home Rule
column.
Mr.. Forster introduced his Coercion
Act as early as January "a, and it was
sent to the Lords on February %, with
only 80 votes recorded against 1t. In the
interval the Irish members had had re-
course to obstruction. and had been re-
peatedly named and expelled from the
Commons; and the passage of the Act
had only been effected by a Parliament
airy coup d'etat on the part OF the
Speaker for which there was no legal
warrant and which could only be JUST
fled on the ground of political necessity.
Mr.. Cowan was almost the only Liberal
who gave aid to the Irish members I'm
their campaign against coercion. The
Crimes Act passed during the following
year was supported in like manner by
2 both English parties. the struggle IN the
Commons being Of short duration owing
to the general horror caused by the
Phoenix Park murders. On these occa-
sions the Irish members were powerless
to do NOR than retard by obstruction
tactics the united action of the Liberals
and Tories. They We're an insignificant
faction, numbering not more than thur
ty-six. Now there are nearly ninety Ma
tionalists united one man and behind
them are Gfadstone's forces. No stronger
proof of the improved prospects of the
Irish cause could be furnished than IL
afforded by the contrast between the
conditions under which the coercion acts
have been introduced.
Ii is on this account that the prellml-
nary skirnishing of the Irish members Is
To- be regretted. The exciting nigi ses-
sion was brought To a close with the en-
forcenient Of the new closure rule and
the adoption of various votes in supply.
Nothing was gained by the revival of
obstruction tactics. Much may be- lost
il the Irish members continue to have
recourse to such expedients. The day
for guerrilla warfare has passed. The
Nationalists now have an English politi
! cal. camp in alliance with them and can
battle in the open field for Home Rule.
They should abandon tactics which can
Scarcely fail to embarrass the Liberal
leader and to ALLEVIATE the support of
the Liberal forces. They should strive
to strengthen English opinion, which is
now moving steadily in the direction of
Home Rule Self-control and modera-
ton are. Parliamentry virtues which MIR.
Par nell followers cannot now afford To
despkse